Comment from Colin Laughlin
Colin LaughlinOpposeAcademic
Summary: A graduate student at Yale University opposes the proposed OMB research changes, arguing that the regulations may lead to the misinterpretation of scientific terminology by non-scientists. The commenter expresses concern that these changes will result in reduced funding for critical cancer research and delay life-saving therapies for patients.
The Office of Management and Budget ,I am a graduate student in immunology at Yale university currently working on kidney cancer. With the currently proposed OMB research changes, my research to cure a disease that impacts over 70 thousand Americans per year is at risk due to potential misinterpretations by political appointees who lack a scientific background. Certain phrases like transitions or transgenic are common in grants and publications in the field, and prior history has shown that these words can be interpreted differently from their intended meaning by politicians to reduce critical funding. While money is funneled away from research that benefits not only us but our troops (Department of war funds a large percentage of kidney cancer research which has been greatly slashed), thousands of patients that may benefit from novel therapies are seeing these opportunities delayed to points beyond viability for them. I urge the OMB to withdraw this rule, and ensure that grant review remains in the hands of those with the scientific knowledge to understand the process.Colin Laughlincolin.laughlin@yale.eduNew Haven, Connecticut [ ]